Berkshire Hathaway Invests in Pilot Flying J

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Pilot Flying J jointly announced that Berkshire has made a significant minority investment in Pilot Travel Centers LLC, d/b/a Pilot Flying J. The Haslam family will continue to own a majority of Pilot Flying J and Jimmy Haslam will remain as chief executive officer. Pilot Flying J President Ken Parent and the Company’s management team will also remain in place. The Company will continue to be headquartered in Knoxville, TN.

Pilot Flying J is the largest operator of travel centers in North America, with more than 27,000 team members, 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and more than $20 billion in revenues. The investment will expand Pilot Flying J’s opportunities for growth, as the Company remains committed to delivering outstanding service for the trucking industry, professional drivers, local communities and interstate travelers across North America.

Under the terms of the agreement, Berkshire will acquire a 38.6 percent equity stake in Pilot Flying J. The Haslam family will continue to hold a majority interest with 50.1 percent ownership in the Company and FJ Management, Inc., owned by the Maggelet family, will retain 11.3 percent ownership until 2023. In 2023, Berkshire will become the majority shareholder by acquiring an additional 41.4 percent equity stake and the Haslam family will retain 20 percent ownership in the Company and remain involved with Pilot Flying J.

“Pilot Flying J is built on a longstanding tradition of excellence and an unrivaled commitment to serving North America’s drivers,” said Warren Buffett, chairman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. “Jimmy Haslam and his team have created an industry leader and a key enabler of the nation’s economy. The Company has a smart growth strategy in place and we look forward to a partnership that supports the trucking industry for years to come.”

“Given the impeccable reputation of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, and our shared vision and values, we decided this was an ideal opportunity,” said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. “As a family business that has evolved and prospered over the last six decades, we knew that any potential partner would need to share our commitment and have a proven track record as a long-term investor. We have that in Berkshire Hathaway – they believe in our strategy, support our team and are excited to see Pilot Flying J grow. We are honored and humbled to partner with them.”

James Haslam II, founder and chairman, Pilot Travel Centers LLC said, “Berkshire Hathaway’s investment in Pilot Flying J is a testament to our exceptional team members and their dedication that has made Pilot Flying J the great company it is today. Berkshire Hathaway’s commitment to keep Pilot Flying J in Knoxville was most important to us. The Knoxville community is an integral part of our company and our family. We are committed to continuing to make a difference in Tennessee, supporting and giving back to our communities here at home.”

The investment by Berkshire Hathaway reflects the success of a series of transformational milestones that have allowed the Company to evolve and strengthen its capabilities and market position over the last several decades. These milestones include the merger of Pilot with Flying J to create today’s company, as well as transactions with Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Williams, Speedway, Mr. Fuel and Speedway-Wilco that have grown the Company’s network.

BDT Company, LLC advised the Company and, as part of the transaction, BDT Capital Partners, LLC exited its minority equity investment in Pilot Flying J.

About Pilot Flying JPilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers in North America, is committed to connecting people and places with comfort, care and a smile at every stop. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states, more than 100 roadside assistance trucks and growing as part of its Truck Care Program, 44 Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers, and 35 Boss Shops. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 70,000 parking spaces for trucks, 4,900 showers and more than 5,000 diesel lanes offering Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) at the pump. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 15 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information. Follow @pilotflyingj on Twitter and @pilottravelcenters on Facebook.

About Berkshire HathawayBerkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, finance, manufacturing, retailing and services. Common stock of the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.

Lubrizol Announced a Temporary Surcharge

Lubrizol advised its customers on September 27, 2017 that starting October 6th through December 31, 2017, there will be a surcharge of $10/100Kg, or $0.36/Gallon, or $0.05/lb on all Lubrizol additives excluding liquid and solid Viscosity Improvers shipped from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore.

According to what blenders have been told, the temporary surcharge is a result of the events surrounding Hurricane Harvey and the impact on the infrastructure of the petrochemical industry. Importantly, these include interruption in the supply of chemical intermediates used in the manufacturing of additives.

Valvoline Inc. announced the retail launch of its newest innovation, the Easy Pour Bottle.

Valvoline worked alongside consumers to develop the game-changing design. The brand’s patent-pending Easy Pour Bottle will make changing oil easier while offering a simplified shopping solution for the automotive Do-It-Yourself (DIY) audience. “Valvoline’s goal for 151 years has been to use our expertise for the benefit of our customers. Each part of Valvoline’s Easy Pour Bottle has been engineered with our DIY consumers in mind – reimagined, redesigned, tested and proven to make changing oil easier, faster and cleaner,” said Heidi Matheys, Valvoline chief marketing officer. “Our technical team integrated an abundance of consumer field research and feedback, which ultimately resulted in this one unique design.” Highlights of Valvoline’s new Easy Pour Bottle include:

Centralized Handle – Makes for a more confident pick up, transport and pour.

The brand is so confident in their newest innovation that they have issued a Satisfaction Guarantee at retailers nationwide, offering a 100-percent money-back promise to encourage DIYers to experience the bottle – and its advantages – for themselves. Valvoline has partnered with seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson to promote a series of entertaining videos showcasing the ease of use and cleanliness of the new packaging. Videos are now available for viewing at EasyPour.com. Additional motorsports athletes will participate in the series later this year.

“Our Easy Pour Bottle is one of the biggest packaging innovations in the history of Valvoline and was developed with integral feedback from DIYers and auto experts alike,” said Michelle Allen, director of marketing for Valvoline. “As we look to the future, we will continue to innovate in every area – from design to products and services – to meet the needs of our customers.”

About Valvoline™Valvoline Inc. is a leading worldwide producer and distributor of premium branded automotive, commercial and industrial lubricants, and automotive chemicals. Valvoline ranks as the #2 quick-lube chain by number of stores and #3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume in the United States. The brand operates and franchises more than 1,070 Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM centers in the United States. It also markets Valvoline lubricants and automotive chemicals; MaxLife™ lubricants created for higher-mileage engines, SynPower™ synthetic motor oil; and Zerex™ antifreeze. Visit valvoline.com to learn more.

The Lubrizol Corporation announced the opening of a state-of-the art drumming facility and warehouse at its Painesville Township manufacturing facility, both of which are part of the company’s previously announced phased investment at the site. The total $70 million investment better positions the company to meet the changing demands of customers and ensures the integrity and quality of its products while reinforcing personal and environmental safety.

Construction on the 180,000 square feet combined buildings began in April 2015. With a focus on enhancing safety and business processes, the new buildings will be instrumental in reducing risk and achieving the company’s business objectives of improving effectiveness, efficiency and consistency.

“Historically, the Painesville Township site has been of great importance to our business, operating for more than 60 of the company’s nearly 90 years,” said Tom Curtis, incoming president of Lubrizol Additives. “This latest investment reinforces our commitment to the community by further ensuring the site as a key source in Lubrizol Additives’ global supply chain.”

With more than half of all Lubrizol Additives products worldwide containing at least one component manufactured at the Painesville Township site, adding new manufacturing capacity and updated automated packaging capabilities was a necessity. Furthermore, these efforts are important to ensure product integrity and to improve the overall safety and efficiency of handling product drums and totes.

“With our new drum filling facility, we will be able to improve safety by minimizing the manual packaging of drums, reducing packaging time for a single batch by more than 50% and minimizing the number of times a drum is handled by more than 70%,” commented Craig Hupp, Lubrizol Painesville Township plant manager. “And, with 100% indoor storage provided by our new warehouse, we will improve the quality and appearance of packaged products delivered to our customers. All of these improvements will be a tremendous value to our overall organization.”

To commemorate the opening, earlier today Lake County Commissioners presented Lubrizol with a certificate of recognition followed by a formal ribbon cutting ceremony at the facility. In attendance were several of the Lake County Commissioners and Painesville Township Trustees, as well as representatives from Lake County Port Authority. Representatives from Lubrizol included Eric Schnur, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Tom Curtis, incoming president of Lubrizol Additives; Mark Sutherland, Lubrizol corporate vice president of global communications and public affairs; Mike Vaughn, Lubrizol corporate vice president, operations; Matt Joyce, vice president of Lubrizol Additives sales and marketing; and Craig Hupp, Lubrizol Painesville Township plant manager.

About The Lubrizol CorporationThe Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a market-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimize the quality, performance and value of customers’ products while reducing their environmental impact. It is a leader at combining market insights with chemistry and application capabilities to deliver valuable solutions to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol improves lives by acting as an essential partner in our customers’ success, delivering efficiency, reliability or wellness to their end users. Technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, driveline and other transportation-related fluids, industrial lubricants, as well as additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for home care, personal care and skin care products and specialty materials encompassing polymer and coatings technologies, along with polymer-based pharmaceutical and medical device solutions.

With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,300 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2016 were $6.5 billion. For more information, visit Lubrizol.com.

Source: Lubrizol

The First PQIA Regional Lubricant Quality Summit was a Success!

With nearly 100 in attendance, the first regional PQIA Lubricant Quality Summit on September 14th, in Wickliffe, Ohio, was deemed a success by attendees, speakers, supporters, and sponsors.

The theme of the PQIA Summit was “Taking it to the Streets” and by all indications, it hit its mark by raising awareness about the quality and integrity of lubricants in the market and shining a light on both good and bad motor oils, transmission fluids and other lubricants.

From left to right: Douglas Rathbun, Robert DeRubeis, Ronald Hayes, and John Stegierwald

Adding to that, the summit included informative presentation from weights and measures from the states of Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan about their programs to protect consumers from off-spec/mislabeled motor oils, automatic transmission fluids, and antifreeze/coolant. Further, Ron Hayes, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection, spoke to what the state of Missouri is doing to address concerns about the proliferation and dangers of obsolete tractor hydraulic fluid (THF) in the market. In addition, the Summit included informative presentations from industry thought leaders about the new CK-4 and FA-4 diesel engine oil specifications, developments in PCMO to address pre-ignition in T/GDI engines, and the growing complexity of ATFs.